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Champagne, ILL.– Fight Illini All-American Kofi Cockburn (Kingston, Jamaica) announced on his social media accounts on Friday that he would return to Illinois for the 2021-22 season.
Cockburn is the first center in Illinois history to achieve All-America consensus status, averaging 17.7 points and 9.5 rebounds while making 65.4 percent of the field in his second campaign. dominant in 2020-21. He placed third in the country with 16 double-doubles and fourth in the country for field goal percentage while leading the NCAA with 78 dunks.
Cockburn helped Illinois go 24-7, including a 16-4 record in conference, followed by the Big Ten Tournament championship and the No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament. The Illini set school records with 19 wins against competitors from the Big Ten and six wins against the top 10 teams. Illinois finished the year second in the latest AP poll, the second highest ranking in program history.
“We are more than delighted that Kofi remains a Fighting Illini and adds the best player in the country to our roster,” said the head coach. Brad underwood mentionned. “Kofi has been thorough every step of the way, from exploring professional opportunities to deciding to return to college. He has played a major role in our success over the past two years and has more individual goals and team to achieve this season. Kofi will have the chance to expand new aspects of his game while continuing to be a dominant inner force on both ends of the pitch. “
The Illini are now returning three starters and six of their top nine players from last year’s rotation. Led by Cockburn, entering his junior season as the candidate for National Player of the Year, Illinois recoups 63% of his minutes, 60% of his points and 69% of his rebounds while adding three remarkable transfers and a top 25 ranked. recruiting class.
THE KING’S RETURN ?? pic.twitter.com/NooK3q9BKp
– Kofi Cockburn (@kxng_alpha) July 16, 2021
COCKBURN KOFI | HIGHLIGHTS 2020-21
- NCAA Consensus Second Team All-American
- Wooden Team All-American Award
- Associated Press Second Team All-American
- NABC US Second All-Star Team
- USBWA Second Team All-American
- Sporting News All-American Second Team
- CBS Sports Second Team All-American
- USA Today Second All-American Team
- Finalist for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Prize
- Sports Illustrated Third Team All-American
- Big Ten Tournament All-Star Team
- First Team All-Big Ten
- USBWA All-District V Team
- No. 7 in the National Player of the Year ranking on kenpom.com
- Only NCAA player to average 15+ points and 9+ rebounds shooting at least 60%
- Led the nation with 78 dunks
- Third nationally with 16 doubles-doubles
- Fourth in the NCAA for field goal percentage at 65.4% (214-327)
- Fifth in the Big Ten in scoring (17.7 points per game)
- Premier in B1G and 24th in NCAA rebounding (9.5 rpg)
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